Thermoelectric generator

Abstract

A thermoelectric generator (e.g., a waste heat recovery apparatus) comprises a heat absorption member made of touch pitch copper and a thermoelectric module in which a plurality of thermoelectric elements are arranged to join electrodes between a pair of insulating substrates, thus utilizing waste heat emitted from a lamp having an exterior wall. One surface of the heat absorption member is formed to match the exterior wall of the lamp, and the other surface is formed to match the thermoelectric module, which is accompanied with a heat dissipating fin, which is further cooled by a cooling fan. At least a part of the heat absorption member can be arranged close to a light emitting tube of the lamp. The thermoelectric module generates electricity based on the heat transferred thereto from the lamp via the heat absorption member.

1 . A thermoelectric generator comprising: 
 a thermoelectric module comprising a pair of a first insulating substrate having a plurality of first electrodes and a second insulating substrate having a plurality of second electrodes, between which plural thermoelectric elements are arranged to join the first and second electrodes respectively;    a lamp having an exterior wall including a light emitting tube therein; and    a heat absorption member arranged between a certain portion of the lamp in which temperature rise occurs by heat emitted from the light emitting tube and the first insulating substrate of the thermoelectric module,    wherein the thermoelectric module generates electricity based on a temperature difference between the first insulating substrate, to which heat emitted from the lamp is transferred via the heat absorption member, and the second insulating substrate.    
   
   
       2 . A thermoelectric generator comprising: 
 a thermoelectric module comprising a pair of a first insulating substrate having a plurality of first electrodes and a second insulating substrate having a plurality of second electrodes, between which a plurality of thermoelectric elements are arranged to join the first and second electrodes respectively; and    a heat absorption member that is arranged between the first insulating substrate of the thermoelectric module and an exterior peripheral surface of a lamp,    wherein the thermoelectric module generates electricity based on a temperature difference between the first insulating substrate, which is heated by the lamp via the heat absorption member, and the second insulating substrate.    
   
   
       3 . The thermoelectric generator according to  claim 2 , wherein a first surface of the heat absorption member arranged close to the lamp is shaped to match the exterior peripheral surface of the lamp, while a second surface of the heat absorption member is shaped to match the first insulating substrate of the thermoelectric module.  
   
   
       4 . The thermoelectric generator according to  claim 2 , wherein the first insulating substrate of the thermoelectric module is made of a thin film.  
   
   
       5 . The thermoelectric generator according to  claim 2 , wherein the heat absorption member is made of aluminum or copper.  
   
   
       6 . The thermoelectric generator according to  claim 2 , wherein a thermal resistance reducing layer made of a prescribed material having a relatively high heat resistance or a relatively high thermal conductivity is arranged in a gap between the heat absorption member and the exterior peripheral surface of the lamp.  
   
   
       7 . The thermoelectric generator according to  claim 6 , wherein the prescribed material is selected from among grease, carbon, and resin.  
   
   
       8 . The thermoelectric generator according to  claim 2 , wherein the heat absorption member is coated with a heat insulating material except the first and second surfaces thereof.  
   
   
       9 . The thermoelectric generator according to  claim 2 , which is adapted to a projector.  
   
   
       10 . The thermoelectric generator according to  claim 2  further comprising: 
 a display for displaying an image; and    a Peltier element for adjusting temperature of the display, wherein the electricity generated by the thermoelectric module is supplied to the Peltier element to adjust the temperature of the display.    
   
   
       11 . The thermoelectric generator according to  claim 10 , wherein the display comprises a device in which a plurality of small metal mirrors are arranged on a substrate.  
   
   
       12 . The thermoelectric generator according to  claim 2 , wherein the thermoelectric module is arranged above the lamp.  
   
   
       13 . The thermoelectric generator according to  claim 2 , wherein the lamp is directed downwardly in light emission direction.  
   
   
       14 . The thermoelectric generator according to  claim 2 , wherein the heat absorption member is arranged above the lamp so as to transmit heat emitted from the lamp upwardly, and the thermoelectric module is arranged above the heat absorption member so as to receive the heat from the lamp via the heat absorption member.  
   
   
       15 . The thermoelectric generator according to  claim 2 , wherein each of the thermoelectric elements is made of a prescribed material, which is a combination of at least one of bismuth and antimony and at least one of tellurium and selenium.  
   
   
       16 . A thermoelectric generator comprising: 
 a thermoelectric module comprising a pair of a first insulating substrate having a plurality of first electrodes and a second insulating substrate having a plurality of second electrodes, between which a plurality of thermoelectric elements are arranged to join the first and second electrodes respectively;    a lamp having an exterior wall including a light emitting tube therein; and    a heat absorption member that is arranged between the light emitting tube of the lamp and the first insulating substrate of the thermoelectric module, wherein at least a part of the heat absorption member is arranged inside of the lamp.    
   
   
       17 . The thermoelectric generator according to  claim 16 , wherein the thermoelectric module is attached to a backend portion of the lamp by intervention of the heat absorption member, which is brought into contact with the first insulating substrate of the thermoelectric module and the backend portion of the lamp, and wherein the heat absorption member is partially arranged inside of the lamp.  
   
   
       18 . The thermoelectric generator according to  claim 17 , wherein the part of the heat absorption member penetrates through the exterior wall of the lamp and is elongated towards and broadened along an interior peripheral surface of the exterior wall of the lamp.  
   
   
       19 . The thermoelectric generator according to  claim 17 , wherein an internal space is formed inside of the exterior wall of the lamp to encompass the light emitting tube, so that the part of the heat absorption member is elongated inwardly into the internal space.  
   
   
       20 . The thermoelectric generator according to  claim 17 , wherein the part of the heat absorption member is arranged in a boundary between the light emitting tube and a part of an exterior peripheral surface of the exterior wall supporting the light emitting tube.  
   
   
       21 . The thermoelectric generator according to  claim 20 , wherein the part of the heat absorption member penetrates through the exterior wall of the lamp and is arranged inside of the lamp encompassed by the exterior wall.  
   
   
       22 . The thermoelectric generator according to  claim 17 , wherein an internal space is formed inside of the light emitting tube and is elongated from a backend of the light emitting tube to a light source of the light emitting tube.  
   
   
       23 . The thermoelectric generator according to  claim 16 , wherein a part of the exterior wall of the lamp is constituted using the heat absorption member.  
   
   
       24 . The thermoelectric generator according to  claim 16 , wherein the heat absorption member has an internal space that communicates with an internal space of the lamp encompassed by the exterior wall.  
   
   
       25 . The thermoelectric generator according to  claim 24 , wherein a plurality of fins are formed on an interior surface of the internal space of the heat absorption member.  
   
   
       26 . The thermoelectric generator according to  claim 24 , wherein the heat absorption member has a heat radiation hole communicating with an exterior thereof.  
   
   
       27 . The thermoelectric generator according to  claim 16 , wherein an exterior peripheral surface of the exterior wall of the lamp is covered with a heat insulating material except a part of the exterior peripheral surface of the exterior wall accompanied with the heat absorption member.  
   
   
       28 . The thermoelectric generator according to  claim 16  adapted to a projector, which is equipped with the lamp.  
   
   
       29 . The thermoelectric generator according to  claim 25 , wherein the heat absorption member has a heat radiation hole communicating with an exterior thereof.  
   
   
       30 . The thermoelectric generator according to  claim 17 , wherein an exterior peripheral surface of the exterior wall of the lamp is covered with a heat insulating material except a part of the exterior peripheral surface of the exterior wall accompanied with the heat absorption member.  
   
   
       31 . The thermoelectric generator according to  claim 17  adapted to a projector, which is equipped with the lamp.